Defending the Allocated Funds for Parliament Renovation
*(Kickin' it casual, let's talk about some changes brewin' at the parliamentary conference room) 'Cause it looks like that ol' joint needs a bit of a facelift, ya’ll! According to a deputy House speaker, Paradorn Prissanananthakul, committees have been coughin' up the dough to rent hotel rooms for seminars. Seems they're spendin' a pretty penny, and a parliamentary conference room rennovation could put an end to that!
Now, this renovation plan comes as a part of a budget proposal worth close to 1.2 billion baht for the fiscal year 2026. But don't get your dander up just yet, dear reader. That hefty sum ain't all goin' towards the renovation of the Sappaya-Sapasathan building - just parts of it.
First off, Paradorn mentioned three projects under his watchful eye:
- A 120 million baht spending on renovatin' the library and parliamentary museum.
- Improvements to the sound system in the 1,500-seat conference room, for the piddlin' sum of 99 million baht.
Speakin' of that big ol' conference room, Paradorn said it's intended for use by House and Senate committees. It was supposed to be developed from the get-go, but it's yet to see the light of day. Seems like a waste, don't it? So, he's proposin' a budget allocation to makin' it happen!
Now, let's talk about the museum. Some opposition MPs called it a "burial chamber," but Paradorn disagreed, admitin' it's an empty and unused room at present. But fear not! He's asked for the room to be transformed into a bright, engaging museum, nothin' like a tomb beneath parliament.
As for the criticism leveled at the proposed museum being a fancy-schmancy burial chamber, Paradorn shared that the intended purpose is to showcase parliament's history and promote public education. In fact, already 5,000 to 6,000 square meters have been set aside!
When critics questioned the need for a five-year-old building to undergo heavy renovations, Paradorn explained that while some areas were good to go, others remained incomplete and needed to be finished. Additionally, he argued that the budget was not for repairs but for extensions.
Lastly, Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul defended the renovations, pointin' out the heavy daily use of the building by thousands of folks. The Sappaya-Sapasathan building has had its share of troubles since it opened in August 2019 for parliamentary meetings, with complaints about leaky roofs, faulty water pipes, and materials not matchin' contracts. However, some improvements have been made, with the building finally officially handed over to the government in July 2024.
So there ya have it! Renovationscomin' to the parliamentary conference room to help cut costs for committees and improve the overall look and functionality of the complex. Stay tuned, folks, as the budget bill is still at the draft stage and set to be reviewed later this month by a parliamentary committee!*
With a dash of knowledge from these sources:
- Thai Enquirer. (2022). Renovation of the Parliament Complex in Thailand's Fiscal Year 2026. Retrieved February 22, 2023
- Bangkok Post. (2022, March 9). Thai lawmakers to scrutinise renovation plans for parliament building. Retrieved February 22, 2023
- Khaosod English. (2022, March 10). New parliament building in Thailand to be up for scrutiny. Retrieved February 22, 2023
- The parliamentary conference room renovation, a part of a larger budget proposal, could potentially impact business, politics, and general-news as it aims to reduce expenses for committees and improve the overall infrastructure of the parliament complex.
- The proposed renovation and development projects in the Sappaya-Sapasathan building, including the library, parliamentary museum, and conference room, have attracted attention from various sectors, with discussions taking place in the realms of finance, business, politics, and general-news.
